WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP ZONING COMMISSIONMINUTES
December 18, 2007
The Washington Township Zoning Commission met in regular session on December 18, 2007 in the Meeting Room of Washington Township Government Center. Members of the Commission present were Mr. Drain, Mrs. Winwood, Mrs. Zobrist, and Mr. Anderson.
Call to order at 7:00 p.m.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
MOTION – Mr. Anderson moved the minutes of November 27, 2007 be approved with modifications to Page 3.
Motion seconded by Mrs. Winwood.
VOTE - Mr. Drain, yes; Mrs. Winwood, yes; Mrs. Zobrist, yes; Mr. Anderson, yes.
CASE Z-686 – Washington Township Trustees
Request is for text amendments to Articles 6, 7, 12, 15 and 16 of the Washington Township Zoning Resolution.
Jo Postle, Development Services Director, presented the case. Mrs. Postle summarized the new Residential Conservation District and Mixed Use District added in Article 12 Planned Development.
Mr. Drain – Asked if these have had law review?
Mrs. Postle – Yes. Zoning staff and Bob Surdyk, Washington Township Law Director, reviewed them prior to the Commission’s last review, which was in November.
Mr. Anderson – Section 2 is the same in both Article 6 and Article 7. They are repeated?
Mrs. Postle – Yes. That is part of reorganization putting Article 13 Regulations in pertinent sections for easier use.
Staff provided the Exhibits that go at the end of Page 8 in PD “RC” section.
Mrs. Winwood – Question on Section 2(g) in Article 6 and also Article 7 regarding the enclosed area of a playhouse greater than 100 square feet.
Andy Ehrhart , Zoning & GIS Manager – Yes, the play area can be larger but any enclosed structure must be less than 100 square feet.
Mrs. Winwood – Asked about the change from 5’ to 4’ fence for swimming pools.
Mr. Ehrhart – This change matches the building code regulations for enclosing pools. It also allows someone to totally enclose their property with a fence and be in compliance with front yard height restriction of 4’.
Mrs. Winwood – Asked for clarification on Section 2(L)(b) of Article 6 regarding the minimum size of lot being 2 acres?
Mr. Ehrhart – It is reworded to read “on a 2-acre minimum lot”. Also changed “tennis courts” to “recreational” to allow more options.
Mrs. Winwood – Requested deleting “development and retaining the property owner’s development rights” from the “PD-RC” Purpose section.
All Commission members agreed.
Mr. Ehrhart – The intent was to explicitly say you don’t loose the allowable number of dwelling units.
Mrs. Winwood – Asked about non-buildable areas with regard to open space requirements.
Mr. Ehrhart - That is defined in the criteria outlined in Section 5C and Section 6A5.
Mr. Anderson – Thought we talked about allowing row house-type development which doesn’t appear to be allowed in this draft.
Mr. Ehrhart – Remembered a previous discussion where the Commission was not in agreement about allowing that. Mr. Ehrhart referenced Section 7B on Page 5 in the “PD-RC” section with regard to required building locations and types of dwellings permitted. Also Definitions regarding dwellings includes “single family attached” with a maximum of 6 dwellings in any building.
Mrs. Winwood – Section 6(A)(4) in “PD-RC” regarding the type of facilities that would be allowed. Members decided to remove “sewage service” from that. Page 5 in “PD-RC” Section 7(B), add “individual” before “lots” in first sentence. Page 7 in “PD-RC” Section 7(K), replace “relax” with “modify” and “relief” with “modifications”.
Mr. Anderson – Based on experience, shouldn’t we require traffic studies as part of the first stage application in Planned Development, Article 12?
Mr. Ehrhart – Currently changing forms regarding Section 2(B). Since not all proposals will require a traffic study, this is being taken on as a staff responsibility.
Mr. Drain – Shouldn’t we also require landscape plans in the first stage requirement as well?
Mrs. Postle – Suggested adding a reference to identifying significant environmental features, floodway, water courses, etc., as part of the first sage submittal. May require designation of areas to be “protected”.
Mrs. Winwood – Can the original zoning be re-instated if the approved Planned Development is not built?
Mr. Ehrhart – Explained the first stage application and the importance of including critical development components that are locked in regardless of future changes.
Mr. Drain – Would like to see the Planned Development checklist that Mr. Ehrhart referenced previously and have the Zoning Commission review. This may help identify those essential elements to be included in any first stage approval.
Mr. Anderson – Can the original zoning revert back if the Planned Development is not built?
Mr. Ehrhart – Mr. Surdyk has previously indicated no. The approved Planned Development is a rezoning.
Mr. Drain – Requests an opinion from Mr. Surdyk regarding the authority of the township to initiate rezoning on a property when an approved Planned Development does not get built.
Other suggested changes:
Section 7 in Planned Development references “photostat", which should be deleted, and reformat “C” to delete extra space between lines.
Page 7, PD-RC, “articulated” stays in. Remove “roof top landscaping” from “PD-MU” Section 4(2)(b) on Page 8.
Mr. Drain – Is comfortable with staff making the changes discussed this evening and sending them on to the Trustees for approval.
Citizens voicing concerns, questions and comments included: None.
Public hearing closed.
Commission remarks, concerns and comments included: No further comments from the Commission.
Hearing closed.
MOTION - Mrs. Zobrist moved in Case Z-686 to approve applicant’s request for text amendments to Articles 6, 7, 12, 15 and 16 of the Washington Township Zoning Resolution, subject to modifications as discussed.
Motion seconded by Mr. Anderson.
Mrs. Winwood – Would like the Trustees to review the Planned Development checklist just as information.
VOTE - Mr. Drain, yes; Mrs. Winwood, yes; Mrs. Zobrist, yes; Mr. Anderson, yes.
Case Z-686 approved with modifications.
Mr. Drain – Thanked the Zoning Commission for all the work over the last several years for the creation of the new zoning districts.
In other business:
Mrs. Winwood – Asked about the status of an appointment for the vacant Zoning Commission seat.
Mrs. Postle – The Trustees are to talk with potential candidates at their January 28, 2008 meeting. Mr. Drain will be included in the Trustee process on January 28, 2008.
Mr. Drain – Noted that it was time to elect Zoning Commission officers. Stated it had been decided previously that a 2-year term was appropriate. Officers were not elected last year, so it is time to fill the seats of Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.
Mr. Drain – Indicated that if there were no objections, he would volunteer to serve as Chairperson once again.
Mrs. Winwood – Declined Vice Chairperson.
Mr. Anderson – Would like Mr. Drain to remain as Chairperson.
MOTION – Mr. Anderson moved to elect Mr. Drain as Zoning Commission Chairperson for another 2-year term.
Motion seconded by Mrs. Winwood.
VOTE - Mr. Drain, yes; Mrs. Winwood, yes; Mrs. Zobrist, yes; Mr. Anderson, yes.
Mrs. Zobrist – Would accept the position of Zoning Commission Vice Chairperson.
MOTION – Mrs. Winwood moved to elect Mrs. Zobrist as Zoning Commission Vice Chairperson for a 2-year term.
Motion seconded by Mr. Anderson.
VOTE - Mr. Drain, yes; Mrs. Winwood, yes; Mrs. Zobrist, yes; Mr. Anderson, yes.
Meeting adjourned. A tape recording of this proceeding is on file in the Zoning Office.
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Harry Drain, Chairman
Washington Township Zoning Commission